| Author | Message | ||
| Brian3 Registered user Username: Brian3 Post Number: 42 Registered: 8-2005 |
The Pastor at the church we have been "Trying on" for the last several weeks preached a sermon on the Sabbath "Principle" or "Pattern" yesterday. He did not make it a salvation issue; rather, he kind of hinted that we could honor God better by setting aside 1 day in 7 for him. My wife had to keep poking me in the ribs as a muttered under my breath about how I thought he was abusing the scriptures he was using. Like if the pattern was set in Genesis 2:3 then what happened to that pattern for the first 2000+ years before Exodus 16? Anyway, Iíd appreciate any input from the forum on ideas for refuting this ìPrincipleî. I plan on talking with or emailing a message to the Pastor this week. Thanks, Brian Luttman brian@luttmanfamily.net | ||
| Sabra Registered user Username: Sabra Post Number: 407 Registered: 10-2001 |
Brian, I knew I was in the church I was meant to be in when on the second Sunday I was there the pastor said Sunday wasn't the Sabbath, Jesus is. Lots of christians are confused about this, but I would point out that we are to set aside all 7 days under the spirit of the law. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3946 Registered: 12-2003  |
Brian, I so understand. Our pastor has been preaching through Romans, and he's spent the past three weeks (before this last Sunday) in Romans 14. Gary knows that each week he preaches to an unspecified number of former and questioning Adventists as well as former Mormons, etc. (We are often aware of his specific comments which clarify Scripture specifically to address the issues of legalism we have.) Here's what Gary said about Sabbath-keeping along with eating meat and drinking wine (see Romans 14). He made clear that we are not to judge another person regarding their practices, although, according to the text, the vegetarians, Sabbath-keepers, and teetotalers are weaker in faith, if their abstinence is because of a religious "should". BUTóhe clarified that if a vegetarian or Sabbath-keeper is observing these things in any sense connected with salvation, they are to be challenged as Paul challenged the Galatians. Gary referred to the "professional legalists" who are not open to learning more about the will of God in these areas and who want to pull others into their practices rather than being open to change in themselves. These people, he said, are not the ones Paul speaks of when he says to honor their freedom of observance. These people need to be confronted with perverting the gospel. Have you given you pastor Greg Taylor's book, "Discovering the New Covenant" or Dale's book, "Sabbath in Christ"? These might be very good along with your own understanding of the new covenant. Also, Hebrews 4 (along with the entire book of Hebrews) speaks of how the old requirements are obsolete and are now fulfilled in in Jesus. We really can't "honor God better" by keeping a day. If we are convicted that we personally are to observe a day, it would be sin for us not to. But if we are feeling pushed toward Sabbath-keeping on any day because of a misapprehension of the new covenant, we need someone to teach us. BTW, those sermons of Gary's can be downloaded as MP3s or listened to online here: http://www.trinityonline.org/cgi-bin/MediaList.cgi?section= Colleen | ||
| Mrsbrian3 Registered user Username: Mrsbrian3 Post Number: 47 Registered: 8-2005 |
Poke you in the ribs? I thought I was going to have to take you out to the "mothers room".  Kim | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 175 Registered: 12-2004 |
Colleen, It was 2 sermons on Romans 14 by Michael Andrus, an Evangelical Free Pastor, and a friend of your Pastor that convinced me that there was actually freedom and even joy in Christianity. I challenge anybody to read 10 different commentaries on Romans 14 and not come away changed. This chapter alone gave me my epiphony regarding what is and isn't essential in Christianity. It also speaks to how we are to lovingly deal with our brothers and sisters who have not yet come to fully appreciate freedom from the bondage of the law. Randy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3956 Registered: 12-2003 |
I agree; Romans 14 is amazing. Colleen |
